S. Korea orders recall of Peruvian eels

SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea issued an emergency order Tuesday to recall Peruvian frozen eels after a toxic pesticide was detected in some shipments.

The measure taken by the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) came one day
after the government said preliminary tests showed residual levels of carbofuran
in the eels served to schoolchildren in South Chungcheong Province.
Carbofuran is one of the most toxic carbamate pesticides that is particularly
lethal to birds, but can be fatal to humans if consumed in large quantities.
Samples checked by local health officials and the police revealed 0.24 parts per
million (ppm) and 0.40 ppm of the pesticide in the eel consumed by the children,
the administration said.
On Nov. 25, elementary schoolchildren in Yeongi, about 100 km south of Seoul,
displayed symptoms of food poisoning after eating the eels that were served for
lunch.
The health authority said a total of 21,376 kg was imported in February, with
5,000 kg processed for local consumption. People have already consumed 4,800 kg,
with 190 kg having been confiscated.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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